Thanks for posting the details of the act Woolyval. It is good to know exactly where you stand.
Deepinthewoods, the fines will have increased - since the 1982 Criminal Justice Act fines are increased to allow for inflation using the 'standard scale'. The original £10 and £50 fines are I think both 'level 1' which is now £200. Not a lot, but a bit more of a deterrent than a tenner.
SallyintNorth, if I read it correctly the law applies everywhere unless the Minister (now presumably the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has specifically decided that should
not apply in an area. It is not a general clause meaning there is no offence in "wholly or mainly of mountain, hill, moor, heath or down land". You could ask your local DEFRA office is any such ruling has been made in your region. I am sure they will love to find that out for you
.
It is also worth quoting the law regarding livestock owners shooting dogs from the Animals Act 1971. It is legal to kill or injure a dog
if, and only if, either— .
(a)the dog is worrying or is about to worry the livestock and there are no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or .
(b)the dog has been worrying livestock, has not left the vicinity and is not under the control of any person and there are no practicable means of ascertaining to whom it belongs.